The ever-changing relationship between Mourinho and United

November 9, 2017

Jose Mourinho is a man I love and also hate. I’ve always had a begrudging respect for people in football who manage to boil piss and Mourinho does this better than most. As Manchester United fans, we’ve experienced this fairly acutely over the years.

When he first was drawn to our attention, he was the Porto manager, knee sliding on the Old Trafford touchline. We had lost 2-1 away from home in the first leg of our round of 16 Champions League tie, yet everything looked to be going our way at Old Trafford.

Paul Scholes put us 1-0 up with half an hour played and just before half-time scored the goal that should have seen us through the next round. Despite being a couple of yards onside, the linesman raised his flag, and the goal was disallowed. In injury time, Porto equalised and they booked their place in the quarter-finals.

Mourinho went on to win the Champions League that season and as a result was named the next manager of Chelsea. Roman Abramovich wanted to turn the west London club in to a European giant. They had won the league title just once before and with the money he made available, dwarfing the transfer funds of every other team in a way never seen before, it looked like their dominance under Mourinho was indefinite.

Had we known then what we know now, that Mourinho is a manager who hits the self-destruct button with any club he spends more than two seasons with, we wouldn’t have worried.

In his third season, Sir Alex Ferguson proved beyond doubt that he is the best manager this country has ever seen. With every year that passes since his retirement, his legacy grows, as we become all the more aware of how difficult it is to win the title in consecutive seasons, let alone building title winning team after title winning team at the same club.

Mourinho threw his toys out of the pram in his third year at Chelsea though. He repeatedly claimed United had the referees to thank for their superior position and started a nasty war of words with a young Cristiano Ronaldo, pointing to his poor background, with “no education”, for the reason why our former no.7 correctly claimed Mourinho didn’t know how to admit his own failings.

Mourinho has had a whole host of misdemeanours on his record since then which meant many United fans, including myself, didn’t want him anywhere near our club. Sticking his thumb in Tito Vilanova’s eye socket, the disgraceful sexism which lead to the sacking of Eva Carneiro, not giving young players a chance in the team, lying about then Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard supposed visit to Anders Frisk’s dressing room which lead to death threats for the referee and his premature retirement, and so on.

But he’s a confusing man. A few months ago he set himself up for the embarrassment of being a goalkeeper in the charity game that raised money for the victims of Grenfell, as the most high profile person to feature in the match. He showed up at a press conference following Claudio Ranieri’s sacking with the manager’s initials on his shirt and said Leicester should name the stadium after him. After suffering an embarrassing 4-2 defeat against Bradford in the FA Cup with Chelsea he visited the opposition dressing room and shook every players’ hand, congratulating them on their win.

Mourinho is supposed to be the bad guy, the pantomime villain, but every now and again he shows glimpses of being a really good guy, who is compassionate and magnanimous, but these moments are usually fleeting.

The occasion that probably stands out more in the memory of United fans than any other is his reaction to Real Madrid knocking us out of the Champions League in 2013. United were in total control before the ridiculous decision to send off Nani. Ferguson was described as “distraught” after the game and wouldn’t fulfil his media obligations. Hindsight tells us this was down to the fact he knew this was his last involvement in the competition as he would retire at the end of the season.

“Independent of the decision, the best team lost. We didn’t deserve to win but football is like this,” Mourinho said after the game. “I know Manchester United are giants, not just physically but mentally. I know they have a manager who can motivate them.”

It was in this moment that Mourinho confirmed what many United fans had thought all along; he wanted the job as our manager.

There were claims he cried when he learnt that Ferguson had chosen David Moyes over him, leading him to take up the job at Chelsea instead. Yet in 2016, United finally appointed him. He claimed there had always been a “connection” between him and the club and that he got a feeling at Old Trafford he never had elsewhere.

Mourinho’s first game in charge was a friendly at Wigan. United took a whole stand and this was the beginning of Mourinho understanding what his new club’s support was like.

“What I found was unbelievable for the first time in my career,” he said. “The support for a friendly like this was like it was a crucial Premier League match. Unbelievable.”

His first year at United was filled with similar comments. He has repeatedly talked of how he’s never experienced fans as dedicated as ours.

“I’ve managed several clubs and I have never seen such unrivalled passion,” he said in March. “The stadium is full every time we play and the support the players receive is special.”

Whenever he plays Chelsea, he taps the United badge on his chest, and winds them up by reminding them he is their best ever. “Judas is number one,” he told them last season following the boos and jeers he suffered in the cup game at Stamford Bridge.

United fans are in a fortunate position though. It doesn’t matter who takes charge of the club as nobody will ever rival the success of Ferguson. Mourinho is Chelsea’s greatest ever manager, winning half of the league titles they’ve achieved in their entire history, and he breaks their heart every time he points to United’s crest.

Our fans will never have the same dilemma though. We are both using each other. It doesn’t matter much who he goes on to manage or what he has to say about their supporters in comparison to ours. He can rock up at PSG and talk about it being the best “project” of his life but it doesn’t mean anything.

Mourinho’s ego is satisfied by managing the country’s biggest club and being in a position to add to his trophy tally. United supporters are looking for anyone who can restore some pride in the club and salvage the damage after the dismal years of Moyes and Louis van Gaal.

He can make up nonsense about the fans not supporting Lukaku, make snide digs in the programme notes and flirt with PSG. This irritates our fans but it’s not the be all and end all. He’s a means to an end. We can enjoy him pissing everyone else off, we can celebrate the trophies he wins, but we’re fully aware it’s only transient. We just have to hope we can get a league title or European Cup out of him before he self destructs.

46 Comments

Pretty decent write up and very much sums up Mourinho in a very positive way. As for the self destruct part, I would hope that its no longer the case....At Chelsea he had to deal with a nut job of an owner, at Real well we all know about how they are managed so hopefully at United he has found his peace and will be with us for years to come.....Years filled with trophies galore

I'm gonna say what I think. I don't believe that Mourinhno's heart is really in the job. I don't think it's what he expected it to be and he's already looking elsewhere. By the same token I don't think he's what most fans wanted though what many fans expected.

Chide the opposition all you like but not the fans nor the players in public. That grates and looks like someone purposely trying to cause problems where none need exist.

That part of his management style I don't like and neither do I like his set up, team selection, tactics or mentality. He did well to win what he won in the first season but I can't see us challenging for major honours as we still look like a pub side in bigger games when we should be at our best.

This explains our Jose situation perfectly. He is in my opinion a temporary fix for a struggling club to get back to a position of dominance. We should not in any way give Jose more than 3 years though as he is too high maintenance, second position and champions league semi finals appearance or even a hard fought quater final loss against the big boys would be a step in the right direction and a foundation to build on and improve our style with a new manager when Joses contract is up.

'Echoing what most of us think' you say? Who exactly, you yourself and Wayne? Laughable

Stand out side the ground on match day and ask that question then what the majority think, THAT is how you conduct a census ....You do not decide what a majority is when just one or two posters agree with your imaginary theories

You always write rubbish but never explain them when getting called out
I've already aked you several times to explain things you just ignore.Seems to be your MO write rubbish about someone exaggerate what he's saying but never explain yourself.

I'm agreeing with gra mar's comment yet you decide to attack me instead of him.why is that ? he said exactly the same as what I've been saying for weeks.

'Echoing what most of us think' you say? Who exactly, you yourself and Wayne? Laughable

Funny just on this thread,gra mar,ifeany,Mark and myself are all agreeing it's just you that isn't,is there something wrong with you ?you seem to be having a problem understanding comments

Anyway please share with everyone what my imaginary or as you once put it conspiracy theories are

Also match day fans only represent a very small % of the fan base and revenue and a lot of proper fans have been priced out of going. Keane termed the phrase 'Prawn Sandwich Brigade' 17 years ago,the day trippers and corporate seats used for perks have increased considerably since then.
So why you think match day fans carry anymore weight then any other fan I've no idea

Explain my conspiracy theories you've never actually told anyone what they are.just keep saying i have them
You're also ignoring everything else in my comment
Why aren't you attacking gra mar saying exactly what i've been saying?
Why did you write this lie 'Echoing what most of us think' you say? Who exactly, you yourself and Wayne? Laughable
When it's plain to see you're the only one not agreeing on this thread

You have just played down the supporters who follow the club all over the country and grouped them with the few who visit the ground for a 'day out'. Using Keano's comments goes to show how much you have just marginalized the thousands that pay a lot of money to follow the club.

I think the majority of fans were ok with Mourinho coming but knowing it would be at the cost of playing exciting football and a person who can be a bit of prick at times to say the least. Ask booby Charlton about that. 'He'll be good for a few trophies despite not playing the football fans wanted to see' I think was the general consensus.

What's beginning to emerge now is that against top teams we struggle and will struggle to win major honours if that is the case. Playing 'pragmatic' football is one thing but playing it and not winning key games is another story and it looks like we're heading there. Add that to comments by Mourinhno with regard to fans, the board, staying etc and you begin to understand why his acceptance was largely qualified. He's beginning to prove the doubters right.

Funny want to show me were you used away fans or i mentioned away fans or put them down in anyway ? once more just a lie.
How did i marginalize 1000's of fans just pointing out what everyone knows
There's 1000's upon 1000's of Reds who have been priced out of the game
There's been a increase in day trippers and corporate boxes/seats
Match day revenue represents approx 20 % of total revenue and less than 1% of total fan base
It's you the put the emphasis on those fans lucky enough to afford tickets somehow carry more weight than any other fan

So once more your whole comment is just nonsense finished off with a personnel attack,which you also do a lot

United24 i can only go on other blogs, comments on here, and when i listen to talksport.There's lots of Reds who have issues with Jose one way or the other
On Rom there's you WAU,Marq and Bryan_Robson who are firmly behind Jose and have no issues with him
The rest of the blog have the same or some of the same concerns that gra mar pointed out just like most blogs or talk shows.

NOW the match going fans have no base? i've no clue what you're asking here
Bryan_Robson said the only way to get a true consensus is to stand outside the ground and ask match day fans.
I simply pointed out the obvious flaws in his theory
But please explain what you were asking because i don't understand it.

Tod
There's more than those you mentioned that are firmly behind him.
Those who have always been against him on ROM are just reappearing because we are going through a relatively bad patch.

Lots of fans on blogs, you tube etc are the same everywhere.
They tend to find their voice when things are not going that well. Its just an avenue to vent.
When things are smooth sailing they enjoy silently.

United24, ok, who on ROM apart from the 4 i mentioned are firmly behind him.Also if you're referring to me as always being against him you need to check last seasons threads.I didn't start voicing my issues until after the City away game,i didn't want LVG either but showed him the same respect until things obviously wasn't going to change.
On top of the team not playing particularly good football,Jose is always looking for negative drama.I don't see how this helps the morale around the team one bit.What does picking on players,fans,praising other teams 'projects' as magic and special then also causing friction with the board achieve except negativity

The thing with a Jose is he brings it on himself there was no need for the PSG comments or the finger to the lips gestures,he’s been given money and support, he just needs to get on with it.No sense having a go at the supporters.
I personally hope he does a fantastic job and brings loads of success, I just as Gra Mar pointed out fell his hearts in it.

On the match day fan remark, I'd have to side with TOD! They are a small percentage of the Manchester United Fan Base. Thats not to say their opinion don't matter but there's a larger scale to consider.

Why are you guys surprised with Mourinho. He's a relatively new school manager. He's paramount concerning is winning right now and not building for the future. And quite frankly, he's successful!
He always flirted with other clubs, he's hardly invested in youth, he's always had an attitude problem. These are facts ... but he's very successful and in 18 months, has already proved such.
We should have known exactly what we were getting into. I certainly did and I appreciate and I'm realistic with everything Mourinho brings to the table.
Frustrating he is, preagmatic he is, arrogant he is, SUCCESSFUL he is.

”Also match day fans only represent a very small % of the fan base and revenue and a lot of proper fans have been priced out”
That's just the truth ?how is that saying the fans that still go are not proper fans ? please show me where i said that or just stop lying and making up things i never said

Like I've always said, hate makes you imagine things. And you have clearly showed that you never read, and just jump on things. Grow a pair of eyes and go back to elementary school to learn how to comprehend things.

Btw, nobody here has even tried to suggest they represent the majority except for you. Tell me again who is trying to be King

Although I am not in England I could swear that I hear Mourinho's song loud and clear both in home and away games....Ok ok I may be imagining things here, but my mates who are season ticket holders ( J stand the traitors lol) keep telling me how they love bouncing to Mourinho's song...

Let's face it though, in the mind of a resident 'genius' these folk probably do not represent jack shit.

Look like i said earlier days ago. We are defending our manager so much cause these 2 agenda trolls and hating asses habe gone and hated and just poured shite and imaginery things to our manager so much and we have needed to play defense